Lafourche jail should be replaced

Published: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 9:25 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 12:47 p.m.

The Lafourche Parish jail had to be evacuated this weekend because a water line broke, meaning there was no fresh water going into the facility.

Inmates had to be transferred to various other jails and prisons around the state and many ended up at the Orleans Parish Prison.

Though no one can be faulted for the most-recent event, Lafourche Parish clearly needs to get its act together and get moving on replacing the aging jail.

We have known for years that it was crumbling and in need of replacement.

There was even the beginning of a process to look into how to go about getting the money and coordinating the effort between the Parish Council and the Sheriff’s Office.

Unfortunately, no one has followed through on that effort and kept it on track.

The time long ago arrived for our public officials to attack this problem and the recent evacuation is just another reminder that nothing has yet been done.

"This is symptomatic of the chronic problems everyone in the parish knows exist in the jail," Sheriff Craig Webre said. "We have an old facility that has reached the end of its usefulness."

We agree that it is a sign that the jail problem has reached the crisis stage. And we hope Webre is correct in his prediction that it will eventually spur action on the part of the parish officials.

"When (the Parish Council) starts writing checks and realizes this is not going to be a one-time event -- that it is systematic of infrastructure failure -- it will drive home the extent of the problem and be a catalyst for change," Webre said.

The current state of the jail is a disgrace and this is just the latest reminder of the continuing problem.

We aren’t suggesting that the public give the parish government a blank check to fix the situation, but there are innovative ways to pay for a new jail.

Some area parishes have taken on more prisoners from the state to subsidize local operations.

In the end, this might be a time when a bond issue is warranted and that will be the direction the parish must take.

Whatever the eventual outcome of the debate, though, it must begin and should begin immediately.

The parish president and members of the Parish Council just took office. And the sheriff was just re-elected to another term.

This is a pressing problem that demands attention now.

Let’s get started.

Editorials represent the opinion of The Courier and Daily Comet and not of any one individual. Questions or comments concerning editorials may be addressed to the Editor, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361 or e-mail at: news@houmatoday.com.

<p>The issue: Crumbling jail.</p><p>We suggest: Fix it.</p><p>The Lafourche Parish jail had to be evacuated this weekend because a water line broke, meaning there was no fresh water going into the facility.</p><p>Inmates had to be transferred to various other jails and prisons around the state and many ended up at the Orleans Parish Prison.</p><p>Though no one can be faulted for the most-recent event, Lafourche Parish clearly needs to get its act together and get moving on replacing the aging jail.</p><p>We have known for years that it was crumbling and in need of replacement.</p><p>There was even the beginning of a process to look into how to go about getting the money and coordinating the effort between the Parish Council and the Sheriff’s Office.</p><p>Unfortunately, no one has followed through on that effort and kept it on track.</p><p>The time long ago arrived for our public officials to attack this problem and the recent evacuation is just another reminder that nothing has yet been done.</p><p>"This is symptomatic of the chronic problems everyone in the parish knows exist in the jail," Sheriff Craig Webre said. "We have an old facility that has reached the end of its usefulness."</p><p>We agree that it is a sign that the jail problem has reached the crisis stage. And we hope Webre is correct in his prediction that it will eventually spur action on the part of the parish officials.</p><p>"When (the Parish Council) starts writing checks and realizes this is not going to be a one-time event -- that it is systematic of infrastructure failure -- it will drive home the extent of the problem and be a catalyst for change," Webre said.</p><p>The current state of the jail is a disgrace and this is just the latest reminder of the continuing problem.</p><p>We aren’t suggesting that the public give the parish government a blank check to fix the situation, but there are innovative ways to pay for a new jail.</p><p>Some area parishes have taken on more prisoners from the state to subsidize local operations.</p><p>In the end, this might be a time when a bond issue is warranted and that will be the direction the parish must take.</p><p>Whatever the eventual outcome of the debate, though, it must begin and should begin immediately.</p><p>The parish president and members of the Parish Council just took office. And the sheriff was just re-elected to another term.</p><p>This is a pressing problem that demands attention now.</p><p>Let’s get started.</p><p>Editorials represent the opinion of The Courier and Daily Comet and not of any one individual. Questions or comments concerning editorials may be addressed to the Editor, P.O. Box 2717, Houma, LA 70361 or e-mail at: news@houmatoday.com.</p>